Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes

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This article is about the castle in Rhodes. For the palace in Valletta, Malta, see Grandmaster's Palace (Valletta).
Palace of the Grand Master
Παλάτι του Μεγάλου Μαγίστρου
Part of the fortifications of Rhodes
Rhodes, Greece
Maltan knights castle in rh.jpg
View of the castle
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Type Castle
Site information
Owner Greek Government[1]
Open to
the public		 Yes
Condition Intact
Site history
Built 7th century (citadel)
14th century (palace)
1937–1940 (restoration works)
Built by Byzantine Empire
Knights Hospitaller
Kingdom of Italy (restoration works)
Battles/wars Siege of Rhodes (1480)
Siege of Rhodes (1522)
Events 1481 Rhodes earthquake
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iv, v
Designated 1988 (12th session)
Part of Medieval old town of Rhodes
Reference no. 493
State Party  Greece
Region Europe and North America

The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes (Greek: Παλάτι του Μεγάλου Μαγίστρου), also known as the Kastello (Greek: Καστέλο), is a medieval castle in the city of Rhodes, on the island of Rhodes in Greece. It is one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece. The site was previously a citadel of the Knights Hospitaller that functioned as a palace, headquarters and fortress.

History

The palace was originally built in the late 7th century as a Byzantine citadel. After the Knights Hospitaller occupied Rhodes and some other Greek islands (such as Kalymnos and Kastellorizo) in 1309, they converted the fortress into their administrative centre and the palace of their Grand Master. In the first quarter of the 14th century, they repaired the palace and made a number of major modifications.[2] The palace was damaged in the earthquake of 1481, and it was repaired soon afterwards.

After the island was captured by the Ottoman Empire, the palace was used as a command centre and fortress. The lower part of the palace was severely damaged by an ammunition explosion in 1856.[3] As a result, many rooms in the first floor were destroyed.[2]

During the Italian rule of Rhodes, the Italian architect Vittorio Mesturino restored the damaged parts of the palace between 1937 and 1940.[4] It became a holiday residence for the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III, and later for Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, whose name can still be seen on a large plaque near the entrance.

On 10 February 1947, the Treaty of Peace with Italy, one of the Paris Peace Treaties, determined that the recently established Italian Republic would transfer the Dodecanese Islands to Greece. In 1948, Rhodes and the rest of the Dodecanese were transferred as previously agreed. The palace was then converted to a museum, and is today visited by the millions of tourists that visit Rhodes.[5]

In 1988, when Greece held the rotating presidency of the European Economic Community (as the European Union was known back then), Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and the other leaders of the EEC had a famous party in the Palace.[5]

Gallery

  • Palace of the Grand Masters of Rhodes, 1844.jpg

    The palace in 1844

  • Medieval City of Rhodes 03.jpg

    The castle overlooking the medieval town

  • Palazzo dei gran maestri di rodi, entrata principale 01.JPG

    The main entrance

  • Rhodos407.JPG

    Chimneys

  • Palace of the Grand Masters of Rhodes - Windows 01.jpg

    Detail

  • Close view

  • Palace of the Grand Masters of Rhodes - Door.jpg

    Door

  • Rhodos408.JPG

    Courtyard

  • Palazzo dei gran maestri di rodi, cortile 06.JPG

    Arcades at the courtyard

  • Madonna with child Rhodes.jpg

    Sculpture of Virgin Mary

  • Knights HospitallerP8220779.JPG

    View from the interior

  • Rhodos311.JPG

    Gothic portal

  • Main hall of the palace.jpg

    Main hall

  • Mosaic of Medusa from Kos, installed in the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes.jpg

    Medusa mosaic (2nd century BC) from Kos

  • Palazzo dei gran maestri di rodi, sala delle muse, mosaico delle nove muse da kos 03 talia.JPG

    Mosaic with Thalia (Muse) from Kos

  • Palazzo dei gran maestri di rodi, sala delle muse, mosaico delle nove muse da kos 09 polimnia.JPG

    Mosaic with Polyhymnia from Kos

  • Palazzo dei gran maestri di rodi, mosaico bizantino da kos occ.le, 450-500 ca..JPG

    Byzantine mosaic from Kos (450-500)

  • Rhodos388.JPG

    Byzantine mosaic from Kos

  • Laocoön and His Sons, modern copy

  • Portrait of Philibert de Naillac, Grand Master (1396-1421)

  • Knights HospitallerP8220782.JPG

    Uniform of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

See also

References

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  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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